Stories of inspiration

From Vision to Victory: PSFI Celebrates Community Progress at the 2025 Cagayan de Oro Culmination Day

November 18, 2025

Cagayan de Oro City, November 6, 2025 — Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), together with Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC), celebrated the achievements of scholars, enterprises, and community partners in Northern Mindanao through the 2025 Culmination Day held at Dynasty Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

The event gathered local government representatives, educators, and partner organizations to honor milestones under PSFI’s flagship programs — the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL), Shell LiveWIRE, Biyahero, and Response to Communities Under Emergencies (RESCUE) — as well as other initiatives supporting education, safety, and sustainable livelihoods.

Empowering Scholars Through Technical-Vocational Education

A key highlight of the celebration was the achievement of 24 SKIL scholars who completed their Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II training through PSFI’s Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) Program. Delivered in partnership with the City College of Cagayan de Oro, the City Government, and the PESO Office, the program equips youth with industry-ready skills and pathways to employment.

Within just four months of graduation, 15 scholars have already secured jobs or continued their studies, demonstrating how access to quality technical-vocational education can rapidly translate into real opportunities for Filipino families.

SKIL scholars also received startup toolkits to help them practice and monetize their newly acquired skills, opening pathways for extra income and small-scale side ventures.

Strengthening Local Enterprises Through Innovation

Through the Shell LiveWIRE Program, PSFI supported five community enterprises in Macabalan and neighboring areas: Amiga’s Housemate, DA’YARN, MJ’s Foodies Homemade Bread and Pastry, Macabalan Golden Rays OFW Association, and the Macabalan Fisherfolk Association and Cooperative.

These enterprises received capacity-building sessions, mentorship, and livelihood grants, enabling them to expand their operations and anchor local economic growth. Their stories stood out as examples of how grassroots innovation can strengthen community resilience and prosperity.

Building Safer, More Resilient Communities

PSFI also reinforced community safety through its Biyahero and RESCUE Programs. More than 120 participants were trained in road safety, fire safety, and basic first aid. In partnership with barangays and local schools, PSFI will be installing 14 road signs in key areas of Macabalan to create safer routes for students, pedestrians, and commuters.

Volunteers and fisherfolk also received safety equipment, first aid kits, and solar lights to support emergency preparedness and promote safer, more sustainable livelihoods.

A Shared Commitment to Community Development

The Culmination Day recognized the collective contributions of schools, local government offices, national agencies, and civic organizations that have helped advance PSFI’s programs. These partnerships continue to fuel projects such as Brigada Eskwela, coastal cleanups, tree planting, and other environmental conservation initiatives.

Moving Forward Together

The 2025 Cagayan de Oro Culmination Day reaffirmed a simple truth. Progress becomes more meaningful when it is shared. From nurturing scholars to strengthening enterprises, and from promoting safety to caring for the environment, PSFI and its partners remain united in their commitment to empowering communities and transforming lives across Northern Mindanao.

From a home kitchen to a food stall at Tagbilaran City Hall, Maricris Senados’ journey reflects quiet determination and shared progress. Once a full-time housewife running a small sari-sari store and selling homemade snacks online, Maricris took a chance when an opportunity arose. Through PSFI’s Shell LiveWIRE program, with the support of Shell Pilipinas Corporation, she received assistance that allowed her to save on costs, reinvest in her business, and steadily grow her livelihood. At the same time, her son earned a technical scholarship under SKIL, enabling them to train and graduate together. Today, as her food stall often sells out by early afternoon, Maricris continues to build toward her dream of a permanent cooking space—showing how timely support, partnership, and perseverance can turn small beginnings into sustainable livelihoods.

PSFI and Shell Pilipinas Corporation Celebrate 2025 Tagbilaran Culmination Day, Honoring Community Enterprises and Local Partnerships

PSFI and Shell Pilipinas Corporation celebrated the 2025 Tagbilaran Culmination Day, marking key milestones of the Tagbilaran Social Development Program and the impact of strong local partnerships.

The event highlighted the completion of the 2025 Shell LiveWIRE Program by three community enterprises and recognized broader community initiatives, including school support, coastal cleanups, and disaster relief efforts. The gathering underscored a shared commitment to sustaining community progress in Tagbilaran.

In Memory of Cesar A. Buenaventura

Cesar A. Buenaventura shaped not only institutions, but the character and purpose of the people who worked with him. As the founding chairman of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., he was a principled leader who combined firmness with empathy, demanded excellence, and remained unwavering in doing what was right. In this personal reflection, PSFI Executive Director Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr. shares memories of CAB’s quiet but lasting influence, and the values that continue to guide the Foundation’s service to others.

BCFI and PSFI Celebrate 99 Caregiver Graduates, Opening Pathways to Employment and Transformation

BCFI and PSFI recently celebrated the graduation of 99 caregiver scholars under the MetamorphoCare 2025 program, held at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in Quezon City. The ceremony highlighted powerful stories of second chances, from working mothers and sidewalk vendors to determined breadwinners who turned challenges into opportunities through education and skills training.

Through the Technical Vocational Caregiving Scholarship Program, part of a five–year partnership between BCFI and PSFI, scholars are equipped with NC II certification, career readiness, and direct access to employment opportunities through career talks and a linkages fair with hiring partners. Beyond certificates, the graduates carry renewed dignity, hope, and purpose as they step into their roles as caregivers, ready to uplift their families and serve communities with compassion.

Anchored by Love: The Story of Bong Fernan Tumanda

For years, former seafarer Bong Fernan Tumanda crossed oceans to provide for his family, spending more time at sea than at home. When the pandemic hit and his wife was pregnant, he chose to come home for good and start over through PSFI’s SKIL program in Electrical Installation and Maintenance. Today, Bong works close to his family, helps grow their small business, and treasures simple moments with his children, proving that with courage, faith, and the right support, a father’s love can chart a new course home.

From Sea Waste to Showcase: Candy’s Journey of Creativity and Purpose

In the coastal community of Bagong Silang, Puerto Princesa, Candelaria “Candy” Germata found beauty in discarded plastics and turned them into purpose. Through her enterprise, Candy’s Eco-Friendly Recycled Plastic Bottles, she transforms marine litter into colorful pots and home décor that inspire sustainable living. With guidance from Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Shell Pilipinas Corporation through the Shell LiveWIRE Program, Candy gained the confidence and skills to grow her small business and prove that creativity and care for the environment can change lives.